MILWAUKEE -- The Wisconsin Center District has announced a $15 per hour minimum wage for its employees.
The new wage will be effective July 1, 2020. Those currently making up to $18.50 per hour will also receive no less than a $1.50 per hour raise.
The Wisconsin Center District owns and operates the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, the Wisconsin Center, and the Miller High Life Theatre.
“Providing a $15 minimum wage is a business expectation I have had since I began with the WCD in 2018,” said Marty Brooks, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “My expectation is for the WCD to be an employer of choice. Retaining current talent is the most direct path to providing our guests with world-class experiences. It is necessary to stay competitive for talent in the highly sought-after hospitality and event industries.”
65 percent of employees will be affected by this change, the WCD says.
“Careful financial analysis revealed that we could confidently accelerate the internal timeline for this important employee benefit,” said Brooks. “My CEO Vision is for our staff to Be Bold. Be Proud. Be Experience Obsessed. I feel very proud that we can deliver this expectation back to the staff who is charged with living this vision every day, in every venue we operate.”
